Competency and the Aging Surgeon

Thank you for your comments, Drs. Pauli and Rosengart. My father, an orthopod back in the last millenium, told me he voluntarily downgraded the complexity of his surgeries as he aged, and finished his career (in his 80's) doing insurance examinations. The main problem today is that quality assurance, a la aviation safety, takes a tremendous amount of resources that organizations, payors, and practitioners are reluctant to pay for. The situation is getting worse as physician and skilled mid-level shortages grow and the aging population strains the system more and more, and reimbursements are static. Thanks again for addressing these issues. CW in Miami